vuzvuz

n. a derogatory name for an Ashkenazic Jew. Also adj.; vusvus. Subjects: Hebrew, Religion, Derogatory

Editorial Note: This term is usually used within the religion, especially by Sephardic Jews. The etymological information in the 1998 and 2005 citations is unverified.

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Citations: 1984 Yehoyaqim Martillo Usenet: net.religion.jewish (July 17) “Re: test for Jewishness”: Yet another mindless leftist VusVus cosmopolitan stupidity. Humans have slaughtered each other for universalistic reasons (as in revolutionary France, Russia or China) as least as often as they have slaughtered each for narrow tribal reasons. Groveling cosmopolitan VusVusim were stunned when the Nazis came for them. 1998 AJ Gilboa Mendele: Yiddish literature and language (July 22) “frenk”: Speaking of pejoratives, have you heard the term “vuzvuz” applied to Ashkenazim? Apparently derived from the frequent use of “vus? vus?” in Yiddish. I am not sure that there is any real insult attached to this, though. I often say to people who ask about my origins: Ani? Ani vuzvuz. For that matter, some of my Sephardic friends and colleagues often refer to themselves as frenkim. Perhaps the insult has worn off and all that is left is the wry humour? 2000 [María] The Jewish Palestinian Encounter (Nov. 20): And now, since when Iraq is the Medirerranean, no disrespect intended? since when Ovadia is a Med? Again the Ashkenaziut showing its ear! “anything not vuzvuz is the Med, ya’ani Sefardim, Españolim, the lot.” 2005 [Danya] Jerusalem Syndrome (Jan. 29) “Today’s Hebrew Lesson”: I have a new favorite word. It’s slang, but not (as it was explained to me, though it’d be useful to know if someone else out there disagrees) derogatory, for an Ashkenazi* person. The word is “vuzvuz,” ie “That vuzvuz over there by the bus stop…” Why that word, you might ask? Because the Askenazim always asking, “Vus is dis? Vus is dat?” I’m not kidding. That’s really the reason.

Posted 15 Mar 05 | Permalink | Tell a Friend

Reader comments:

“Vuzvuz” seems like an equivalent for “chakch-chakchim” - used as a derrogatory term for Mizrahim.

Remember Dudu Topaz in 1981?

by Petru 22 Mar 08, 0754 GMT